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N0. 6l|,5l8. Patented Sept. 27, I898. A. l. SHERMAN.

ICE STEAMBOAT.

(Application filed Dec. 2, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heefl l.

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(Application med Dec. 2, 1887.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Hodel'.)

T M V m m A TTOHNEYS.

ANTONE I. SHERMAN, or PUNTA GORDA, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR or our:- HALF TO ALBION K. DEMERE, or SAME PLACE.

ICE-STEAM BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,518, dated September 2'7, 1898.

Application filed December 2, 1897. Serial No. 660,516. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTONE I. SHERMAN, of Punta Gorda, in the county of De Soto and State of Florida, have invented a new and Improved Ice-Steamboat, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in boats intended for navigation upon ice or snow; and it consists of certain improvements in construction by which they are very readily handled and enabled to navigate either on ice or snow to the best advantage and of a propelling mechanism actuated by a steam-engine or other motive power for propelling the oat.

The invention consists of peculiar constructions, which will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boat constructed after my design with portions of the side removed in order toshow the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view showing the arrangement of the runners and the toboggans or snow-slides, as well as the steering mechanism. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation taken through a part of the frame, showing the manner of attaching and adjusting one of the toboggans or snow-slides. Fig. at is a detail section of the propellingwheel, and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner of attaching the snow paddles or spades to the propelling-wheel.

My device is intended for navigation upon snow or ice fields, such as the frozen rivers and plains of the northern countries, and particularly for use in such countries as the Yukon, where ordinary means of travel are lacking.

The invention consists of a boat or house built upon a substantial framework A and provided with suitable runners and snowshoes beneath it and propelling mechanism by which it may be moved over the ice or snow. This house I-I may be made of any size desired and of any shape found suitable. As shown in the drawings, the house is built in two stories or decks, the lower one containing the propelling machinery.

To the bottom of the frame A is secured a series of runners B, which are pivoted upon vertical pivots b. A pair of runners B are similarly mounted near the front end of the frame, but with their pivots nearer the centers of the runners than the pivots of the runners B. These runners all consist of narrow ribs of metal or of wood preferably provided with a smooth metal bottom. The forward runners B are attached together by means of the connecting-rods J, which compel the two runners to swing together on their pivots.

The rods J are connected to a tiller-rope J which is led upward through the forward end of the house to the pilot-house, which, as

shown in the drawings, is located on the up:

per deck. At this pointsaid rope is connected with the drum L of any ordinary steeringwheel L. The operation of the tiller-rope is the same as that in use on boats.

Just outside of the runners B are placed a series of toboggans or snow-slides D, consisting of broad flat plates having their forward ends turned upward, said toboggans or slides being secured to the frame by means of vertical posts D, free to rise and fall within holes or recesses formed in the framework A. I have shown four of these posts for each of the toboggans. At their center the toboggans or slides D are attached to'rods cl, which are threaded and pass through nuts secured to the frame A. At its upper end each rod d is supplied with a hand-wheel d or other suitable means by which it may be turned and the toboggan thus raised or lowered. When raised, the toboggan or; slide lies close under the bottom of the frame. When lowered, it should occupy a position slightly above the bottom of the runners B, preferably about three inches. I

The upper ends of the posts D are slightly notched or concaved, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Upon the floor of the lower deck are secured a number of staples D in line with the posts D. The posts D are made of such a IOO wheels 9 by means of chains G. carrying the sprocket-wheels G is the shaft of Y and provided with propelling and steering means, a series of broad runners or toboggans beneath the said frame, rods attached to each D By this means the posts D are securely held in their lower position and so that the weight of the boat will be taken upon the toboggan in running over snow. In this case the runners B will sink beneath the level of the toboggans or slides D a sufficient degree to prevent the boat slipping sidewise and to enable steering to be readily done.

From the rear end of the boat projects a framework A, which carries a propellingwheel E. This wheel has a series of spokes which terminate in sharp ends e and e, which project beyond the rim of the Wheel and are adapted to engage the snow and ice. Half of the spokes e are preferably made straight, while the other half, e, are made curved, the curve extending backward when the spoke is pointing downward. The wheel E is mounted upon a shaft E journaled in blocks E, mounted to slide in guides F. Beneath and above the blocks E are spiral springs f, which permit the blocks and the wheel carried thereby to rise and fall somewhat as may be necessary in passing over inequalities of surface, the springs being prevented from displacement by a block f.

Upon the shaft E are mounted two sprocketwheels 9, and upon the lower deck of the boat is also mounted a shaft carrying a pair of sprocket-wheels G, connected to the sprocket- The shaft an engine G carried upon the lower deck and furnished with steam from a boiler G Beneath the rear end of the boat is mounted an additional steering-rudder B which turns upon a vertical pivot b To the rear end of this rudder are secured steering-ropes J leading from each side thereof and forward beneath the boat through eyes J 3 until they reach .the forward end of the boat, from whence they extend upward to a connection with the steering-wheel. This steering runner or rudder operates synchronously with the runners B, previously described, to turn the boat in any direction. Upon the forward upper end of the boat is mounted a search-light M, which may be of any ordinary or desired construction.

To facilitate the operation of the propelling-wheel when running over snow, a series of removable blades or paddles I may be attached thereto, which consist of plates, preferably of metal, having a base which may be bolted to the rim of the wheel E, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These blades furnish a larger surface for engagement with the snow and facilitate the propulsion of the boat. They may be removed when the boat is running upon ice and readily substituted when it becomes necessary to run out upon the snow or left permanently attached to the wheel of the boat if it runs upon the snow.

To retard the boat when running down inclines and wherever it is desired to stop quickly, abrake is provided, which consists of the links or bars K, pivoted by their forward end upon the rod K, which latter is supported from the frame of the boat. The rear ends of these bars are provided with points It, adapted to engage the ice or snow when depressed and so to hold back the boat. These bars are depressed by means of a vertical screw-threaded rod d, extending upward into the boat-house and provided at its upper end with a hand-wheel.

The boat may be provided with passenger and freight accommodations in the same manner as any ordinary boat.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An ice-boat having runners beneath it, and provided with propelling and steering means, combined with a series of broad runners or toboggans beneath the boat-frame, and

means for raising and depressing the same, substantially as described.

2. An ice-boat having runners beneath it, and provided with propelling and steering means, combined with a series of broad runners or toboggans beneath the boat-frame,

rods attached to said toboggans and sliding ;in vertical guides in the boat-frame, means for raising and depressing said toboggans, and

means for engaging said rods to lock them in their lower position, substantially as de- .scribed.

3. An ice-boat having runners beneath it,

end of the toboggans and sliding in vertical guides in the boat, a screw-threaded rod attached to each toboggan and to the boatframe and by which the toboggan may be raised and lowered, and means for locking the rods in their lower position, substantially as described.

4. An ice-boat having runners beneath the same, propelling and steering means, a series of broad runners or toboggans beneath the boat, rods attached thereto and sliding in vertical guides upon the boat, said rods having upper notched ends, staples projecting .from the boat-floor in line with said rods, a

bar adapted to engage the notched ends of the rods and said staples, and means for raising and lowering a toboggan at will, substantially as described.

5. An ice-boat, comprising a frame having runners thereunder mounted upon vertical pivots, a steering-wheel, connections therefrom to certain of said runners, whereby they may be used as rudders, propelling mechanism carried upon said frame, comprising a rotating wheel having teeth engaging the ice, and a series of broad runners or toboggans adj ustably attached beneath the frame, whereby they may be raised or lowered, substantially as described.

6. An ice-boat, comprising a frame having runners thereunder mounted upon vertical pivots, a steering-wheel, connections therefrom to certain of said runners whereby they may beused as rudders, propelling mechanism carried upon said frame, comprising a rotating Wheel having teeth engaging the ice,

, a brake-bar pivoted beneath the frame having downwardly-projecting spurs on its rear ends, and means for depressing it at Will, substantially as described.

7. An ice and snow boat having series of narrow runners beneath the body thereof and a series of broad runners or toboggans which are adjustable vertically, a propelling-Wheel mounted on the boatfran1e having a series of projecting teeth and also a series of removable spades or paddles attachable to its rim, and means for turning said Wheel, substantially as described. I

ANTONE I. SHERMAN.

WVitnesses:

B. A. WAGHOB, W. B. HARDEE. 

